Celebrate with us!
Special 20th Anniversary Issue
UBL
newsletter
A Message from the Rector
By Elisabeth Cook
“R
emember…don’t forget...” These two
words are found repeatedly in the
book of Deuteronomy reminding
God’s people to remember who they are
and what God has done for them. Memory
is who we are. Looking back gives us energy,
guidance, and wisdom to look forward and
to live the present. Anniversaries are special
times for “remembering… and not forgetting”.
Some of my fondest ‘remembering’ from my
childhood involves the indoor patio of the
Latin American Biblical Seminary in San José,
Costa Rica. I remember running through the
halls, climbing the trellis, begging candy from
the secretaries while my father was in class,
and later, while he worked in his office next
door. Little did I know that some twenty-seven
years later, I would be a graduate of this very
institution and serve as its Rector.
This year, as we celebrate two special
anniversaries, I am reminded over and over
of my ties to this house of study. Ninety-five
years ago, (to be clear, I was not there at the
time!), the first class gathered in what would
become the Latin American Biblical Seminary.
Twenty years ago, in a ceremony I well
remember, we announced the approval of our
request for accreditation by the Costa Rican
Ministry of Education, and UBL was born. We
are grateful for the vision of past rectors and
faculty whose hard work ensured the levels of
academic excellence and social commitment
recognized by the accrediting institution.
This year, 2017, is a year of celebration. We
celebrate the graduates, some of whose
stories are in this newsletter. They serve in
churches, theological institutions, schools,
governmental and non-governmental agencies,
I invite you to walk with us into the future.
UBL RECTORS
1997-2017
advocating for social justice, training church
leaders, leading their communities in the
struggle against social and domestic violence,
economic exclusion, human trafficking,
among others. Many of these graduates were
my classmates not so long ago, others were my
students, and of course, my friends. They are
UBL’s reason for being. They inspire us to walk
faithfully as we engage the many challenges Elisabeth Cook 2017-2020
facing theological education today.
As I participate in gatherings of theologians,
theological educators, church leaders and
pastors from Latin America and the Caribbean,
many of whom are SBL/UBL graduates, I am
constantly reminded of the important role UBL
has had in training leaders for this generation. Edwin Mora 2013-2016
Just a month ago, I spent an afternoon with
two UBL graduates who serve as Baptist
pastors in Cuba. “The difference” they shared,
as they remembered their time of study at
UBL, “is that everything we learned brought us
back again and again to our ministries, to the
challenges of our contexts and our churches.” I
was humbled as I heard their testimonies and Violeta Rocha 2005-2012
encouraged by their energy and vision for the
continued transformational mission of the
church in their country.
It is my privilege to serve UBL as Rector for this
four-year period. There is much to remember,
and to not forget, from the long history of
this institution. It is a joy to share with UBL Jaime Prieto 2000-2004
students and graduates as they work toward a
better, more just world. The continued support
of churches, individuals and funding agencies
has made possible the 95-year story of the
SBL/UBL. More importantly, thanks to your
gifts and prayers over the past twenty years,
over 200 students have received scholarship
support for tuition, books, room and board. Elsa Tamez 1995-1999
 UBL’s impact continues
through our graduates

Alix Lozano (class of 2000)

Colombian Mennonite pastor.
We are women believers in Christ, committed to building peace
and reconciliation.
In the Colombian context of a 50-year civil war, I co-founded the
Ecumenical Group of Women Peacemakers. I have also served as
pastor, Professor, and Director of the Mennonite Biblical Seminary.

Arnoldo Aguilar (class of 2013)

Guatemalan Pentecostal pastor and seminary professor.
My formative experience in the UBL has been decisive for a
pastorate that contrasts with the fundamentalist and dogmatic
vein of my denomination. In the UBL I discovered freedom and the
Christ who walks with his people, especially with those who suffer
the most.

Danahé Zambrano (class of 2012)

Executive Secretary for the Protection of Rights (government position),
Portoviejo, Ecuador.
We are responsible for protecting the rights of the most vulnerable
populations: children, seniors, women, LGBT groups, migrants,
persons with disabilities, ethnic groups.

Joel Rodríguez (class of 2017)

Honduran Methodist pastor in US.
I pastor a Methodist church of Latin American immigrants in
Oregon. My ministry involves worship and Bible study, but also
trips to the immigration office, cultural orientations to new arrivals,
English classes, and cross-cultural mediations.

Your gifts matter

 UBL’s impact continues
through our graduates

Coralia Blanco (class of 2006)

Cuban, Baptist pastor.
My ability to participate in a pastoral ministry committed to social
justice with marginalized and poor is due to UBL. I discovered the
God of the impossible in each UBL class, activity, meal and worship
service.

Sor Genovena Nieto (class of 2005)

Colombia, Sisters of Charity.
For the past 7 years, I have been working as a Catholic sister with
an International Movement against Human Trafficking. I coordinate
the “Defenders of Life”, a group of lay and religious people in the
community. We work especially in the border areas with Peru,
Brazil, Venezuela and Panama.

Heydi Tatiana Galarza (class of 2013)

Bolivian professor and biblical scholar.
I am currently working on large project that connects religion,
spiritualities, care of the creation and development. We have
established a one-year diploma course as well as organizing
workshops and seminars. I am promoting a network of organizations
working on issues of the environment and ecology.

Oscar Germán Pardo (class of 2001)

Colombian Catholic priest.
The African, Indigenous and Mestizo communities of my parish
live in the fertile Pacific rainforest of Colombia. But they have been
invaded and exploited by the greed of the transnational companies,
illegal mining and the violent groups that have raped the land in
complicity with the government. We have organized to defend the
land and the life dependent on it.

Your gifts matter

 Be a Part of UBL’s Future
Over the past 20 years, your contributions have helped
over 237 individuals from over 22 countries receive
university degrees from UBL
We invite you to continue partnering with us.

Methodist Advance
TELAC Project
#3022262 PRESBYTERIAN ECO
Yearly Goal $5,000
Technology, tuition and E344202 Scholarships
study materials necessary
for students to participate in E862565 UBL library
online bachelor’s and
master’s programs. E865533 All programs

Click here
for other ways to get involved

Crossroads
Study for Transformation

The UBL welcomes groups from churches, colleges and

seminaries who wish to explore faith and social concerns
in this part of God’s world. Participants learn about issues
such as climate change, immigration, gender-based
violence and export agriculture and how they affect
people living in Costa Rica and Latin America.
Come stay with us
at the El Bambú Guest House. k.koll@ubl.ac.cr
Dr. Karla Koll, UBL Study Group Facilitator
Click here
E-mail: hospedaje@ubl.ac.cr

Checks:
Asociación Seminario
Bíblico Latinoamericano

Address:
San Pedro, Cedros de Montes de Oca, www.ubl.ac.cr
del Perimercados 350 metros al Este. SJO 2174, P.O. Box 025331,
Miami, FL 33102
facebook.com/UBL.SanJose.CostaRica